Fire at Rajasthan refinery site a day before PM Modi’s inauguration

The Indian Express - A fire broke out at the Pachpadra Refinery in Balotra on Monday afternoon — just a day before its scheduled inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi is set to inaugurate the refinery on Tuesday. The affected unit is located about 800 metres from the venue where he is expected to address a public gathering. According to initial reports, the incident occurred around 2 pm in the refinery’s Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), where crude oil received through pipelines is processed and distributed to other units.

As soon as smoke was detected, employees activated the fire safety system and promptly evacuated the area. Around 20 fire brigade vehicles are working to curb the blaze and bring it under control. Officials confirmed that all employees have been safely evacuated and no injuries have been reported so far.

Collector Sushil Kumar could not be reached for comment. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot posted on X: “I was deeply concerned to hear the news of the fire breaking out at the refinery in Pachpadra, Balotra. The refinery is a matter of pride for all Rajasthanis, a project whose inauguration is scheduled for tomorrow. Such an incident at this time is extremely unfortunate. I pray for the safety of everyone involved in this event”.

Authorities said the cause of the fire and the extent of damage will be determined once the situation is fully contained. A high alert has been issued across the refinery premises as a precaution.